County officials could not have asked for a better day –- the rain on Tuesday gave way to a sunny and breezy Wednesday -– or a finer location for his second annual State of the Lake St. Clair address at MacRay Harbor.

“You can’t stage a better backdrop than this impressive vessel behind me,” said Executive Mark Hackel, standing at a podium set up on the port side of the Pride of Michigan -- a former U.S. Navy ship that operates as a research and training vessel by the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps with support of the Noble Odyssey Foundation. Also backing Hackel during the annual speech, which kicked off Macomb County’s season of summer fun, were 19 cadets and a sea of harbor masters, marina owners, community leaders and others associated with programs supported by Michigan’s Blue Economy.

Among the good news shared by Gerry Santoro, project manager of Land & Water Resources, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development, is the infusion of $20 million in federal funds to help support 11 projects designed to improve water quality in Macomb County including retention basin expansions, sewer separations, storm sewer cleaning, rapid sampling efforts and more.

Among the waterways that will benefit from the funding is the Clinton River, which had its own crisis this week after an oil spill near Pontiac forced the Oakland County Health Division to issue a public health advisory urging residents to avoid swimming or engaging in recreational activities. However, because collection booms were immediately deployed along the river to remove the material it never reached levels of concern for areas of the river in Macomb County.

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The goal for the Clinton River is to get it de listed, or removed, from the Environmental Protection Agency’s areas of concern. It’s been on the nasty list for 28 years and by 2018, should all go as planned, become another point of pride for Michigan’s Blue Economy.

Speaking of pride, standing next to the Sea Cadets, who were dressed in their formal whites, was Luke Clyburn, president of the Noble Odyssey Foundation and U.S. Merchant Marine Captain. Clyburn grew up enjoying the rivers of Indiana but headed to Michigan to be around the Great Lakes and attend Central Michigan University. While working at a bank to pay for his tuition, Clyburn met Jim Clarkston, who was president of the bank where he worked and was involved in the area’s Sea Cadet program. After one meeting Clyburn was hooked and has been actively involved ever since.

“Its purpose was to develop a maritime interest in America’s youth,” said Clyburn, adding in Michigan that applies particularly to the Great Lakes. Participants in the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps as the national program is called can join when they are 11 and continue until they graduate high school. Most of the programs, which run throughout the school year and into the summer, are land based. Michigan, however, is one of the few states to feature training on the water thanks to the resourcefulness of Clarkston.

He acquired the program’s first vessel, an old ship the Navy was getting ready to send to the scrap yard. After it was refurbished it served as a training vessel until 1989 when the ship being used now was acquired.

“These are the vessels they used for training at Annapolis to teach seamanship, navigation, engineering and history,” said Clyburn.

The Pride of Michigan, for example, was once a working ship used by the Navy to clear the water of mines. Unlike modern ships made of steel and an attraction to the magnetic mines – the Pride of Michigan was made of wood and able to move freely among the mines.

How is any of this important to Michigan’s Blue Economy?

“Our whole program is designed to educate young people about the importance of the Great Lakes,” said Clyburn. “If I can get them excited about working on the water and the employment that it offers them in the future that are going to directly affect Michigan’s Blue Economy.”

Not only because they will be working in the industries that support it but because they will become the future leaders of the country, said Clyburn.

“I’ve been in the program for three years,” said Petty Officer Cory Routen of Westland. “I’ve always had an interest in water and I’m a competitive swimmer. I want to do something in the marine industry for a career. I’m considering the Naval Academy or the Coast Guard Marine Academy (next).”

“I love Lake St. Clair and I love this ship,” said Sea Cadet Collin Shahan, 14, who traveled from Hawaii to take advantage of the freshwater training that Michigan’s program offered. “I always heard about the Great Lakes and wanted to come here.”

The program helps Shahan and others like him gain important vocational skills.

“It’s nice because there aren’t as many people and it’s not as dangerous as diving in Hawaii,” said the 14-year-old cadet. “Right now I want to be a lifeguard but my goal is to become a Navy Seal.”

Following the State of the Lake Address guests received a packet of information outlining more ways to explore Macomb County’s 41 miles of rivers and 31 miles of shoreline. It included a Blue Economy Industry Profile to aid in attracting new investment and outline the source of 5,700 jobs related to the Blue Economy and a marvelous brochure associated with Pure Michigan and the Circle The Lake Tour: Lake St. Clair pointing out the top 99 destinations and attractions – from bridge to bride for 2015.

“With access to abundant fresh water, Macomb County is a great place for companies working to develop water-based technologies,” said Hackel.

Of the events coming up soon and highlighted by Wednesday’s address was the annual “Celebrate the Lake” event going on Saturday at MacRay Harbor in Harrison Township.

“The event features kid’s activities, boating educational displays, a nautical yard sale and an expanded list of attractions and activities for all ages,” said Brad Simmons, executive director with the Lake St. Clair Tourism Initiative, in a release issued to the press. “Events get under way at noon and run until 4 p.m.

About the Author

Gina Joseph is a multimedia journalist and columnist for The Macomb Daily. Reach the author at gina.joseph@macombdaily.com Follow @ginaljoseph on Twitter or visit her beat blog macomblife.blogspot.com. Reach the author at gina.joseph@macombdaily.com
or follow Gina on Twitter: @ginaljoseph.